14 September 2021

Card vouchers for spaza shops? ECOM Africa to feature latest e-commerce payment methods

Submitted by: Annemarie Roodbol Save to Instapaper

E-commerce sales to account for 18% of retail sales worldwide in 2021

Bringing cash into digital commerce is considered the “last mile of payments” and currently considered the biggest growth opportunity in this sector. An example of a physical voucher that can be redeemed as a debit card payment in online stores is 1ForYou, which will be launched officially in 2022 and offer card vouchers in spaza shops throughout South Africa.

“It could be a game changer,” says Rahul Jain, CEO of Peach Payments, the e-commerce retail experts behind this new initiative. “Cash is still the predominant payment method in the informal economy. We are always looking out for ways to make it easier for business owners to bring their stores and services online and become formal businesses that can build credit history and give them access to a broader set of financial tools and services that then can help them scale.”

Jain is part of a who’s who expert line-up from the e-commerce space, including Woolworths, Massmart, Dischem and AutoTrader, who will share their exclusive insights, case studies and expertise at the upcoming ECOM Africa, a full day virtual event set to run next Tuesday, 21 Sep 2021.

The Peach Payments executive sees digital retail increasingly embedding itself into social media. Jain explains: “Watch how Facebook, Instagram and TikTok all start to make it easier and easier to buy your favourite items -- sneakers, jewellery, football kits -- directly from their platforms. Also, several companies are working on building a “super app” with all the features of a mall and a bank together. Look for this to finally build some traction in the coming years.”

E-commerce 18% of retail sales worldwide

“COVID-19 has pushed companies over the technology tipping point, transforming business forever,” says Terry Southam, the MD of ECOM Africa.

He adds: “companies have accelerated the digitisation of their customer and supply-chain interactions and of their internal operations by years. It is believed that the share of digital or digitally enabled products in their portfolios has accelerated by as much as seven years. To stay competitive in this new business and economic environment requires new strategies and practices.”

In 2021, e-commerce sales are expected to account for 18.1% of retail sales worldwide. It is estimated that there will be 2.14 billion global digital buyers. In retrospect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid acceleration in digital transformation, the ECOM Africa speakers will deconstruct the strategies they have been successful with and how they are preparing for the next wave in e-commerce.

The speaker line-up includes:

Hanz Rauch, Head of Digital Product for Online, Woolworths
Rahul Jain, CEO, Peach Payments
George Mienie, CEO, AutoTrader
Paul Cook, CEO, Faithful To Nature
Lynton Peters, CEO, OneCart
Johann Van Tonder, COO, AWA digital
Paris Philippou, VP: Game Ecommerce and Digital, Massmart
Farai Zaranhyika, Head of Ecommerce/Online, Dischem
Warrick Kernes, CEO, Insaka
Phil Marais, Head of Africa and Brazil Supply Chain, Cotton On
Peter Allerstorfer, UCOOK

Key topics

The conference will unpack key topics within the e-commerce space, speaking directly to business operations, store design and optimisation, fulfilment and logistics, payments and security, and marketing and brand building. Attendees can expect to hear case studies on:

Agile product management
Secure payments with digital identities
Inclusion of the informal economy in digital payments
Business operations and infrastructure
Fulfilment and logistics
Conversion rate optimisation
Commerce media and how to target buyers to deliver rich experiences
Developing omni-channel strategies
Leveraging data in digital marketing

Sponsors include Peach Payments, VISA, Freshworks, LexisNexis, uAfrica, AWA digital, RAM, and Criteo who will have a strong presence throughout the event. They will share their experiences with the audiences and will be able to interact digitally with them. The digital platform allows them capabilities to connect with potential customers through virtual exhibition booths, virtual networking, contact swops and educational keynotes and panel discussions.

Next week’s ECOM Africa will be the seventh edition of this flagship, specialist gathering in the e-commerce, retail, and fintech sector.

Register and contactsTo join 1000+ attendees for a full day of in-depth keynotes, panel discussions, online networking and live Q&A sessions, register here.

ECOM Africa dates and location: